Bucket for earth moving machines

ABSTRACT

A bucket for an earth-moving machine made of aluminium alloy and having a cutting edge assembly fabricated from steel, enclosing the forward edge of the bottom of the bucket.

C Unlted States Patent 11 1 3,775,879

Quick 1451 Dec. 4, 1973 [54] BUCKET FOR EARTH MOVING MACHINES 3,526,979 9/1970 Ladewski 37/53 X 3,309,801 3/1967 Ratk0wski.. 37/142 R [75] Qmck 2,317,932 4 1943 Moore 37 142 R Australla 3,648,391 3 1972 Kabay et a1. 37 141 T 3,056,219 10/1962 Jeffrey 37/118 R [73] Asslgnee' 2:522: 3? Harvest" Company 3,550,293 12/1970 Helton 37/141 T [22] Filed: July 28, 1972 OTHER f T Q Q Alummum Bucket C1v1l Engmeermg, Aug. 1958, p. 21 Appl. N6; 276,007 118.

52 us. 01. 37/118 R, 37/141 T, 294/55, 'f pulfrey 29,457 Asslstant ExamlnerEugene H. Elckholt 51 lm. c1 E02f 3/00 Harman [58] Field of Search 37/118 R, 142, 53,

37/141; 29 457; 294/55 [571 ,ABSTRACT A bucket for an earth-moving machine made of alu- [56] Referen es Cited minium alloy and having a cutting edge assembly fab- UNTED STATES PATENTS ricated from steel, enclosing the forward edge of the 3,281,972 11/1966 Kerestes 37 141 R bottom of the bucket 2,164,988 7/1939 De Biasi 37/141 T- 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BUCKET FOR EARTH MOVING MACHINES This invention relates to buckets for earth-moving tensile strength for use in such buckets, these materials do not possess the necessary wear resistance.

With the above stated principal object in view, there. is provided according to the present invention an earthmoving machine bucket comprising a bottom, back and sides fabricated from aluminium alloy plate material, and a cutting edge assembly fabricated from steel plate material secured to the bucket bottom to enclose the forward edge of the bucket bottom.

Preferably, a cutting edge assembly, alsofabricated from steel, is provided to enclose the forward edge of each side of the bucket, at least along the lower portion FIG. 2 is the partial plan view of the bucket shown in I FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line 33 in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 4-4 in FIG. 1. Referring now to the drawings, the bucket is of general conventional construction having end plates 6, a bottom 7, and back 8. Brackets and 11 are secured to the back 8, and incorporate apertures 12 and 13 to receive pins for attachment of the bucket to the boom of a frontend loader. The bottom 7, and back 8, are each formed from two superimposed sheets of aluminium alloy plate 15 and 16, which aluminum alloy may,

for example, be one of those listed in Table 3 on page v593 of Marks Handbook, Fifth Edition (1951). Likewise, the end plates 6 are made of aluminium alloy plate and are welded to the plates 15 and 16 which form the bottom and back of ,the bucket. Each end plate 6 is provided with two stiffener strips 20 and 21 which are welded to the outer surface of the end plate attachment bolts have been tightened, the'clamp member is welded to the cutting member along the line of their engagement, spaced forwardly from the front edge of the bucketbottom. This constructionprovides maximum strength for supporting vertical loads caused by the-bucket breaking-out heavy material from the workface. The cutting edge assemblies on the sides of I the bucket may be of a similar construction and a reinforcing gusset may be welded to the side and bottom clamp members in the area of the junction of the side and the bottom of the bucket.

Appropriate mounting brackets-or platesare secured tothe back of the bucket for attachment ofthe bucket to the support and liftingmechani'sm of the machine. These mounting brackets and plates are also fabricated from aluminium alloy plate material.

In the previously used all-steel'bucket,- the ratio of bucket weight to payload weight was no' rally of the order of 4: l with a large bucket handling light or lowdensity materials. The bucket in accordance with the present invention, which is principally fabricatedfrom aluminium alloy, can result in a saving of approximately percent of the bucket weight, and thus may result in an increase of approximately 12 percent in the payload capacity. b

The invention will 'be more readily understood from the following description of one practical arrangement of a bucket suitable for use on afrontend loader and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the complete bucket;

and extend in a direction generally parallel to the front edge of the the bucket and plate.

sembly attached to the forward marginal'portion of the bottom 7 of the bucket, comprises a cutting member 25,- a clamp plate 26, abacking strip 27 and a thrust strip 28. The cutting member is made from a high carbon steel to provide amaximum resistance to wear, and includes a mounting portion 30, and a cutting edge portion-3l. The clamp member 26 has a tumed-down front edge 38 so that, when the cutting member and clamp member are assembled to the bottom of the bucket, .the tumed-down portion forms a continuation of the inclined upper face 39 of the .cutting edge portion. The backingstrip 27 is'welded to the rear of the mounting portion of the cutting member, prior to assembly to the bucket, to ,provide agreater effective length to the mounting portion at a reduced costas the backing strip 27".may be made from mild steel. 7

The' thrust strip 28 is positioned between the shoulv 'der 35 formed at the: junction of the cutting edge-and 26. Upontightening these 'bolts, the forward marginal portion of the bucket'bottom' is gripped between the clamp member and the cutting member and backing strip to provide a secure attachment of the cutting edge assembly to the bottom of the-bucket. In operation,the

forward portion 'of the bottom of the bucketmade of relatively soft aluminium alloy is protected fromcontact with the earth orother material being handled by the bucket and is thus protected from wear. The cutting of the earth is effected by the cutting assembly which is madeof steel and consequently can resistzthe abrasive action of the earth and resultant wear.

The front edge of each of the end plates of the bucket are also protected along the majority of their length by aside cutting edge assembly of somewhat simpler construction as shown in FIG. 4. This assemblycomprises a flat cutter member 45' and a clamp member 46 which engage the outer and inner face respectively of the end plate along the front-marginal edge and are clamped 1 claim: v

1. An earth moving bucket comprising:

a generally U-shaped member forming the bottom and back for said bucket;

said U-shaped member consisting of a pair of complementary formed sheets of aluminum alloy plate material;

an end member secured to each of the opposite ends of the U-shaped member;

each of said end members formed of a single sheet of aluminum alloy plate material and having a free edge;

stiffeners secured to the outer surface of each of said end members and extending substantially parallel to said free edges;

a cutting member formed of steel material including a mounting portion and a cutting edge portion, said cutting edge portion forming a shoulder with said mounting portion;

a thrust strip formed of steel material positioned between said shoulder and the outer one of said pair of sheets with said cutting member positioned against the bottom of the bucket;

a clamping member formed of steel material, having a turneddown position substantially contiguous with said cutting edge portion, positioned adjacent the inner one of said pair of sheets;

a plurality of first fastening members extending through the mounting portion, the pair of sheets and the clamping member for clamping the pair of sheets between said clamping member and said mounting portion; and

first weld means securing said tumed-down portion to said cutting edge portion.

2. An earth moving bucket according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a backing strip formed of steel material secured to the free end of said mounting portion; and

a plurality of second fastening means extending through said backing strip, said pair of sheets and said clamping member.

3. An earth moving bucket according to claim 2 and further comprising;

a cutter member positioned adjacent to each of the free edges of said end members;

a clamp member positioned adjacent to each of said cutter member on the opposite end of said end members;

each clamp member having an angled portion approaching said cutter member;

a plurality of third fastening means extending through said cutter members, said end member and said clamp members; and

second weld means securing said angled portion to said cutter member. 

1. An earth moving bucket comprising: a generally U-shaped member forming the bottom and back for said bucket; said U-shaped member consisting of a pair of complementary formed sheets of aluminum alloy plate material; an end member secured to each of the opposite ends of the Ushaped member; each of said end members formed of a single sheet of aluminum alloy plate material and having a free edge; stiffeners secured to the outer surface of each of said end members and extending substantially parallel to said free edges; a cutting member formed of steel material including a mounting portion and a cutting edge portion, said cutting edge portion forming a shoulder with said mounting portion; a thrust strip formed of steel material positioned between said shoulder and the outer one of said pair of sheets with said cutting member positioned against the bottom of the bucket; a clamping member formed of steel material, having a turned-down position substantially contiguous with said cutting edge portion, positioned adjacent the inner one of said pair of sheets; a plurality of first fastening members extending through the mounting portion, the pair of sheets and the clamping member for clamping the pair of sheets between said clamping member and said mounting portion; and first weld means securing said turned-down portion to said cutting edge portion.
 2. An earth moving bucket according to claim 1 and further comprising: a backing strip formed of steel material secured to the free end of said mounting portion; and a plurality of second fastening means extending through said backing strip, said pair of sheets and said clamping member.
 3. An earth moving bucket according to claim 2 and further comprising; a cutter member positioned adjacent to each of the free edges of said end members; a clamp member positioned adjacent to each of said cutter member on the opposite end of said end members; each clamp member having an angled portion approaching said cutter member; a plurality of third fastening means extending through said cutter members, said end member and said clamp members; and second weld means securing said angled portion to said cutter member. 